Apparatus for the administration of



Oct. 2, 1945. 'H. F. BRUBACH ETAL 2,385,736

APPARATUS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF GASEQUS MIXTURES,

Filed Sept. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 4 How/m0 FT BRUBACH. 2 LAURENCE lP. CRISP INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 2, 1945 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF GASEOUS MIXTURES Howard F. Brubach, Wood Acres, and Laurence R. Crisp, Bethesda, Md.

Application September 24, 1941, Serial No. 412,164

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as"

amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) 15 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for the administration of gaseous mixtures.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, portable gas-administering apparatus which is safe as well as economical in operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the following description taken in connection with p the accompanying drawings wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation viewof the apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the breathing chamber and adjacent parts, partially in section and partially with the walls broken away;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 33 of Fi 2 Fig. 4 i a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and v v l v Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Fig.3.

The apparatus embodying the present invention is particularly adapted to the safe and economical administration of oxygen-helium mixtures in predetermined proportionsand at desired pressures. The importance of oxygenhelium mixtures arises from its therapeutic char the acteristics, giving it a wide application, as in the treatment of caisson disease, asthma, status asthmaticus, cardiac disease and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, a portable apparatus is provided whereby oxygen and helium may be drawn from separate tanks, mixed to any desired proportion and continuously delivered to a face mask at desired pressure. Since pure helium in the absence of oxygen causes extremely rapid asphyxiation, the invention also contemplates safety means which permits the flow of helium only when the. required flow of oxygen is present.

Referring to the drawings, a helium cylinder. I and an oxygen cylinder 2 are mounted on a portable carriage 3. Conventional hand valves 4 and 5 for controlling the fiowof the gases, together with pressure-reducing valves 6 and 1, are also respectively associated with the cylinders] and 2. Pressure flow gauges 8 and 9 are connected to the high and low pressure sides of the pressurereducing valve 6, while pressure flow gauges II and I2 are similarly connected with respect to the pressure-reducing valve 1.

The low pressure side of each reducing valve 6 and I is respectively connected by one oftubes l3 and M to safety means which permits a supply of helium only when an adequate supply prises a valve I6 which is movable into open and closed positions with respect to a port H in a valve casing t8 having an inlet opening t9 connected to the tube l3 leading from the helium cylinder l and also having an outlet opening 2|. The valve I6. is normally held in its closed position by a spring 22, one end of which engages a shoulder 23 on a stem 24 of the valve l6. The other end of the spring 22 abuts against, and is enclosed by, an extension25 of the valve casing I8.

The valve stem 24 and the valve casing" extension 25 are conveniently mounted in a lower chamber 26 of a housing 21 which is also provided with a top chamber 28 presently to be described. The lower chamber 26v has an opening 29 which is enclosed by a pressure-responsive device 30, such as a sylphon bellows. The valve stem 24 may be secured to the outer end of the bellows so as to be actuated thereby. The lower chamber 26 is also provided with an inlet opening 3| connected tothe oxygen-supply tube [4, and an outlet opening 32. I I

The parts of the safety means [5 are adjusted so that the sylphon bellows 30 operates to actuate the valv I6 into its open position to uncover the port I! only when oxygen under pressure is supplied through the tube M to the chamber 26. Should the oxygenpressure in the chamber 26 fall belowt-he predetermined value for safe operation of the apparatus, then the sylphon bellows 30 collapses sufiiciently to permit the positive closure of the valve" 16 by the spring 22, thereby stopping the flow of helium from the supply tube l3. In this manner, the danger of asphyxiation resulting from an interruption in the oxygen flow to the patient is prevented, without the necessity for any action on the part of the operator of the apparatus. v The present invention also contemplates propor-tioning and mixing means, whereby the oxygen and helium may be brought together and mixed in any one of a number of desired proportions.- To this end, a valve 33 is provided with a pair of inlet ports 34 and 35, an outlet port 36 and a connecting mixing chamber 31. A valve casing 38 is providedwith a pair of inlet ports 39 and 4| which respectively coact with the valve ports 34 and 35. An'outlet port 42 in the casing 38' coacts with the valve outlet port 36.

The .valve casing 38 is mountedin a valve block 43 provided with ports '44 and 45 which respectively align with the ports 39 and 4|. The port 44 is connected by a tube to the outlet'opening connected by a tube 48 to the oxygen outlet open;

ing 32 in the chamber-26, thereby completing the oxygen. passageway to the mixing valve 33. A

small block 49 serves to secure the tube 48 in desired position on the valve block 43.

The helium ports 34 and 39, and the oxygen ports 35 and 4|, are so designed that the flow of.

gases therethrough may be progressively varied from zero to a maximum. The pairs of coacting ports 34, 39Vand 35, 4| are also so' related that the operation of the valve 33 automatically varies the relative proportions of the mixed gases through a range which preferably extends from zero to one hundred percent. As the proportion of one gas in the mixture is increased, that of the other gas is correspondingly decreased. This change in proportion may be indicated by a pointer 5| mounted on the end of the mixing valve 33 and movable over a scale 52.

If desired, a stop 53 may be located in the path of the pointer 5| to prevent the valve. 33 from providing a mixture wherein the oxygen content is less than twenty percent. Should the percentage of oxygen be permitted to drop below this, value, the dangerof asphyxiation by the helium rapidly becomes acute.

The mixed gases pass from the mixing chamber 31 of ithe'valve 33 through the coacting ports 36 and 42 to'a tube 54. This tube'opens into the top'ohamber 28, and it has a control valve 55 of conventional design for stopping the flow of the 'mixed'gases when the apparatus is not in use. v In'acco'rdance with the present invention, the breat ng chamber 56 is formed of a top-plate 51,; a bottom plate 58 and a connecting flexible member 59 forming the side wall of the chamber. The

force thereon of the mixed gases in the chamber 28.

The dimensions of the apertures 12 and the open position of the valve disc 13 are such as to permit free and unrestricted flow of the mixed gases from the chamber 28.-into the breathing chamber 56, so that the predetermined proportioning of the gases by the mixing valve 33 remains unchanged. Thus, the mixing valve 33 is left with full control of the proportioning of the mixed gases and is unaffected by the admission valve 69.

The present invention further contemplates means controlled by the breathing chamber 56, whereby the valve disc 13 may be actuated into its open position and preferably there held until the breathing chamber 56 has reached its desired expanded position. Accordingly, there is provided a spring-actuated toggle 16 which comprises a pair of fulcrumed members 11 and 18 with a spring 19 therebetweenpositioned to snap these members into their raised or lowered positionsas desired; The members 11 and 18 are conveniently of bifurcated form with the 'ends thereof fulcrumed in notched edges of a U-shaped supporting member 8|. The spring 19 is located therebetween as shown in Fig. 4. V

The fulcrumed' member .18 is provided with an arm 82 which is connected to an actuating link 83 pivotally secured at 84 to the center of the top wall 51 of the breathing chamber 56. Theother fulcrumed member 11 of the toggle 16 operatively engages the valve stem 15 of the valve disc 13. An adjusting screw 85 s'erves'to prevent furcollapsed position-of the breathing chamber 56 is shown in solid lines in Fig. 2; and the extended position is shown in dotted lines. I

The bottom plate 58 of the breathing chamber 56 is convenientl provided with shoulders 69 and 6| which are respectivelysecured to upstanding tubular members 63 and 64. These members are removably supported on bracket arms 65 and 66 carriedbythe portable carriage 3'. The arms 65 and. 66 have short extensions 61 and 68, respec tively, of reduced diameters which project upwardly. into the tubular members 63 and 64." Such construction permits the removal .of the breathing chamber 56 merely by lifting the chamber with its tubular members63 and 64 sufficient to clear the ends of the extensions 61 and 68.

Passage of the gases from the chamber 28 into the breathing chamber 56 is controlled by an admission valve 69. This valve comprises a valve 1 casing 1| located in the top wall of the chamber 28, and it is provided with a plurality of apertures 12 which connect the top chamber 28 and the breathing chamber 56. A valve disc 13 for closing the openings of the apertures 12 in the chamber 23, is normally held in its closure position by a spring 14 which abutsagainst a valve stem 15 of the valve disc 13. Movement of the valve disc 1 13 into its opening position istherefore against the force of'the spring 14. Initial movement of the valve disc 13 is :also retarded bythe static ther downward movement of the fulcrumed member 11 when the valve disc 13 has been actuated into its fully open position shown in Fig. 2.

Should the force of thetogglespring 19 not be suflicient to actuate the valve disc 13 into its open position against the forcepof the valve' spring 14 and the force of the static gas pressure in chamber 28 acting on thevalve disc 13, it is desirable to provide an initial opening force independentof that of thetogglel16. This additional force need 'be just sufficient to move the valve disc 13 s0-as to break the static force of the mixed gases thereon, whereupon the toggle 16 may operateto snap the valve disc 13 into its fully open position against the force of the valve spring 14.

To this end, a curvedleVer-BB is'pivoted on the bifurcated supporting member 8| just above the toggle 16; The free end of the lever 86 abuts against an upwardextension 86 of the toggle member 11, so that actuation of the lever 86 results in the desireddownward force onthe valve stem 15 to cause the required small initial move} ment of the valvedisc 13. Movement of the lever 86 may be conveniently efiected by a member 81 extending between the actuating 1ink83 and the lever 86. The member 81 may comprise telescoping sections alfor'di'ng alimited los't motion connection,'permitting lengthening ofthe member 81 when the breathing chamber 56 approaches its elevated extended position. The vertical movement of the lever'86 may be guided by the op-' posed arms of a U-shaped member 88'secured to the'top of the toggle support 8|. V a Thus; when :the apparatus"is in the positio shown in Fig. 2, the toggle 16. holds the valve disc 13 in its open position until the breathing chamber 5Boc'cupies itsfully extended dotted-line position, at which time the link 83 has 'moved the toggle member 18 to such elevated-position; that the toggle'spring 19 snaps'the members 11 and 18 intotheir raised ineffectiveposition. 'Ihe'valve spring 14 then snaps the valve disc I3 into its closed position, preventing the further flow of mixed gases from the chamber 28 into the-breathing chamber 56.

Thereafter, with the gradual withdrawal of the gases from the breathing chamber 56 due to the use of the apparatus, the valve disc 13 remains in its closed position. When the breathing chamber 56 finally reaches its approximate collapsed position, the link 83 has moved the toggle I6 from its raised ineffective position to its lowered effective position. Should the valve disc 13 not then snap into its open position, a further slight collapsing of the breathing chamber 56 causes the link 83 to actuate the curved lever 86 downwardly. The arm 86 and valve stem 15 in contact therewith are then also actuated downwardly, resulting in a slight movement of the valve disc I3 just sufiicient to break the static force of the mixed gases in chamber 28 on the disc I3. The toggle I6 now operates to snap the valve disc I3 into its fully open position shown in Fig, 2.

The mixed gases in the breathing chamber 56 are conveniently conveyed by a breathing tube 99 to a face mask 9 I. The mask 9I has an emergency intake valve 92 whereby air may be drawn into the mask in the event of stoppage of the flow of mixed gases from the breathing chamber 56. A spring 92 is adjusted so that the valve 92 is normally held in its closed position, except for the emergency condition just mentioned.

The face plate 9I is also provided with a discharge or exhaust valve 93. The pressure necessary to open the valve 93 may be Varied by adjusting the force of a closure spring 94, as by moving an adjusting screw 95. Rebreathing into the breathing chamber 56 through the tube 89 is prevented by a spring-pressed check valve 96 which may be conveniently located at the point of connection of the tube 89 with the breathin chamber 56.

The present invention further contemplates means whereby, if desired, positive pressure of predetermined value may be maintained in the breathing chamber 56 and the face mask 9|. Accordingly, there is provided a beam 91 which is fulcrumed at 98 on a vertical extension of the tubular member 63. The beam comprises arms 99 and IOI, and a weight I02 is adjustably mounted thereon. The arm I I, at a point spaced from the fulcrum 98, is supported by linkage I03 and I04 on the top center of the upper plate 51 of the breathing chamber 56.

The link I04 is pivotally secured to the upper plate 51 of the breathing chamber 56. The link I04 is also guided in its substantially vertical movement by a bearing member I05 pivotally mounted in a cross member I06 connecting the upper ends of the tubular members 63 and 64. An adjustable stop I0I on the link I04 engages the bearing member I05 when the breathing chamber 56 has collapsed to the desired extent and thereby prevents the further collapse thereof.

The beam 91 may be calibrated in terms of pressure in the breathing chamber 56 and face mask 9I. Adjustment of the weight I02 to the right of the fulcrum 98 retards the expansion of the breathing chamber 56, while adjustment of the weight I02 to the left of the fulcrum 98assists in the expansion, thus permitting the pressure to be varied from atmosphere to a desired elevated value. When a particular positive pressure is desired in the breathing chamber 56 and face mask 9|, the weight I02 is moved to a predetermined p n n the beam 9.] as indicated by the scale. With the face mask 9| in positionlon the patient, the exhaust valve spring 94 is then adjusted so that free flow of gasthrough the exhaust valve 93 is just stopped.

In the operation of the apparatus, the pointer 5| is moved to the position on the scale 52 which gives the desired percentage of helium and oxy-. gen. The valves 4 and 5 on the cylinders I and 2 are then opened until the proper flow pressure appears on the gauges 9 and I2, say'five pounds.

Oxygen under pressure then enters the lower chamber 26 of the safety means, causing the movement of the safety valve I 6 into its open. position so as to permit the supply of helium to the mixing valve 33. Oxygen and helium now enter the proportioning and mixing valve 33, from which it passes through the shut-off valve 55 to the top chamber 28. I

With the breathing chamber 56 in its collapsed position shown in Fig. 2, the valve disc .13 is also in its open position, sothat the mixed gases pass into the breathing chamber 56. From herethe gases pass through the check valve 96 to the face plate 9| and are inhaled by the patient.

The mixed gases continue to enter the breathing chamber 56 until it has been extended to its maximum position. At this time, the link 83 has moved the toggle I6 into such positionthat the spring 19 thereof snaps the fulcrumed members 11, I8 into their raised position, relieving the opening force on the valve stem I5. The valve spring I4 then snaps the valve disc I3 into its closed position.

As the patient inhales the gases grom the breathing chamber 56, it gradually reaches the collapsed position shown in Fig. 2. The lever arm 86 then causes the valve disc I3 to move slightly to break the static force of the mixed gases thereon, whereupon the toggle I6 operates to snap the valve disc I3 into its'open position. Mixed gases again enter the breathing chamber 56 from the top chamber 28, and the foregoing cycle of op: erations is repeated.

The invention described herein may be manus factured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon. 1

We claim: 7 J

1. In apparatus for the administration of gasee ous mixtures, the combination with a. breathing chamber, of means for conducting one gas, mea ns for conducting another gas, safety means for per-. mitting the flow of the gases in both of'said conducting means only when the gas pressure in one of said conducting means is a predetermined value, and means whereby the gases from said separate conducting means may be mixed and supplied to said breathing chamber, said last-.-'

mentioned means including a proportioning valve.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a breath-v ing chamber, a valve for controlling the flow of gases to said breathing chamber, spring pressed means successively operable to apply and remove an opening force to and from said valve, and means actuated by said breathing chamber for exerting an opening force on said valve separate from that exerted by said first-mentioned means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a breathing chamber and an admission valve for said chamber, of means opere able successively to apply and remove an opening force to and from said valve, said means being controlled by said breathing chamber, and means for exerting an independent opening force on said'valve, said last-mentioned means having a lost-motion connection with said breathin chamber. 7 Vi 1 ff 4. In apparatus of the character described having a breathing chamber, a gas-control'valve'ior said chamber having open and closed positions, a link actuated by said breathing; chamber, a spring-actuated toggle, the arms of which are in operative relation to said valve and said link respectively, and means operatively connecting said link and said valve whereby an opening force may be exerted on said valve independently of said toggle. j Y .1

5. In apparatusof the class described, an expansible breathing chamber, means whereby gases may be supplied thereto, and pressure-adjusting means for said breathing chamber, said last-mentioned means being adjustable to selectively retard orassist the expansion of said breathing chamber. g x v 6; Inapparatus of the class described, the combination with a breathing chamber expansible upon the supply of gases thereto, and an admis sionvalve for said chamber controlled thereby, of means for assisting the expansion of said chamber as the gas is supplied thereto, said means comprising a beam having a fulcrum, one arm of said beam being operatively associated with said breathing chamber, and a weight movable on said beam. 1

7. In' apparatus of the class described, a breathing chamber expansible upon the supply of gas thereto, an admission valve therefor movable into open and closed positions, a proportion ing valve connected to said admission valve, means'controlled by said. breathing chamber whereby said admission valve may be held in its fully open position during at least a part of the time of expansion of said chamber, and adjustable means independent of said first-mentioned means tending to resist the expansion ofsaid chamber whereby the pressure therein may be adjusted to a predetermined value.

mixtures comprising breathing chamber, means for conducting one gas, means for conducting another gas, safety means for permitting the flow of gases in both of said conducting means only when the gas pressure in one of said conducting means is a predetermined value, means whereby the gases from said separate conducting means may be mixed and supplied to said breathing chamber, an' admission valve for controlling the supply of the mixed gases to said chamber, and means operable successively to apply and remove an opening it'orce'to and from said admission valve. I V

'9. In apparatus for the administration of gase 8. Apparatus for the administration of gasous ous mixtures, the combination With means forconducting one gas, means for conducting another gas, and ,a proportioning valve connected to both of said conducting means, of safety means whereby gas may flow in one of said conducting means only so long as gas is supplied to the other a of said conducting means, a breathing chamber connected to said proportioning valve, and an admission valve for controlling the flow of the mixed gases into said breathing chamber.

10. In apparatus for the administration of gaseous mixtures having means ior conducting one gas and means for conducting another gas, the combination with a proportioning'valve con nected to both of said conducting means, and safety means whereby gas may flow in one of said conducting means only so long as gas is 11. In apparatus for the administration of gaseous mixtures having means for conducting one gas and means for conducting another gas; the combination with a proportioning valve connected to both of said conducting means, safety means whereby gas may flow in one of said con ducting means only so long as gas is supplied to the other of said conducting means, a breathing chamber connected to said proportioning valve, and an admission valve for controlling the flow of the mixed gases into said breathing chamber, of means actuated by said breathing chamber for controlling said admission valve, and means ,coacting with said breathing chamber whereby the pressure of the mixed gases therein maybe' controlled. 12. In apparatus of the class described, a proportioning valve provided with a pair of inlet ports, an outlet port and a connectingmixing chamber, a, valve casing having an outlet port for coacting with said valve outlet port, said casing also having an inlet port for each valve inlet port, each pair of valve and casing inlet ports being so related that the flow of gas therethrough may be progressively varied from approximately zero to a maximum, with the flow through one pair of ports increasing While that through the other pair of ports decreases, gas-conducting means respectively connected to said casing inlet ports, a breathing chamber having an admission valve therefor movable into open and closed positions, and gas-conducting means extending between said casing outlet'port and said admission valve, said admission valve in its open position permitting free and unrestricted flow of the mixed gases therethrough, so that the predetermined proportioning of the gases by said first-mentioned valve remains unchangedby said admission valve.

13. In apparatus 'of'the class described, means .for conducting one g'as,' means for conducting trol of the proportioning of the mixed gases remains with said 'proportioning valve, and means controlled by thebreathing chamber for operating the admission valve;

14. In apparatus of the class described having means for'conducting one gas and means for conducting another gas, the combination with a proportioning valve connected to each of said means whereby the gases may be mixed in predeter mined proportions, and means for permitting the flow of gas in one of said conductin'gmean's only when gas is supplied to the othero'f said conducting means, of a: breathing chamber connected to receive the mixed gases, an admission valve for controlling the flow of the mixed gases into said breathing chamber, said admissionvalve when open permitting free and unrestricted flowof the mixed gases, so that control of the proportioning of the mixed gases remains with said proportioning valve, means controlled by the breathing chamber for actuating the admission valve into one of its positions, a face mask connected to said breathing chamber, and means whereby the pressure of the mixed gases in said breathing chamber and said face mask may be controlled.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a housing provided with at least two chambers, one chamber having gas inlet and outlet openings, whereby gas under pressure may be supplied thereto and conveyed therefrom, a passageway controlled by a valve, means whereby gas under pressure in said last-mentioned chamber may actuate said valve, 3, proportioning valve having one inlet port connected to said passageway and another inlet port connected to said chamber outlet opening, a breathing chamber, said proportioning valve having an outlet; port connecting with the other of said two chambers, and an admission valve controlling the passage of mixed gases from said last-mentioned chamber into said breathing chamber.

HOWARD F. BRUBACH. LAURENCE R. CRISP. 

